Leslie on right of photo.
My father’s family first lived in Fryston Village in 1903. His name was Leslie Victor Saunders and his nickname was Sandy. When his parents, Albert Edward and Hannah were first married they lived at Beighton, near Chesterfield, where Leslie was born on the 9th January 1903. When Leslie was three months old they moved back to Yorkshire and lodged for a while at Wheldale Farm. The farm belonged to the Copley family. The farm, now demolished, was reputed to stand on or near the site of a Saxon Church. After the Church of St. Andrew was built at Ferry Fryston around the year 1170, the Saxon Church at Queldale was used as a chapel of ease. Fryston, Queldale (Wheldale) and Ferry Fryston were ancient manors of the Lacy Fee. Ferrybridge was a much newer village and was incorporated with the above in the parish of Ferry Fryston. Ferry Fryston was subinfeudated by Ilbert de Lacy to a man named Hamelin. He built a water mill near the church of St. Andrew. It was known for several centuries as ‘Hamelin’s Mill’.
After a while Albert and Hannah moved into Fryston Village. They lived at number 46 North Street. Albert’s father, William, and his wife, Alma Bertha, lived at that time in Wellington Street. The village was small. Just rows of houses, very basic, with few amenities other than cold water. There was a school and a shop-cum-Post Office. Only colliery employees were allowed to live in the houses. Leave the pit, leave the house. Get behind with the rent, be evicted. Those who were evicted would move into huts on Wheldale Road and manage as best as they could.
Albert was around five feet eleven inches tall, broad shouldered but lean of build. His hair was dark and his eyes very blue. Hannah was small and plump. When I knew her she had grey hair, as did Albert, but I never heard any description of her appearance in her youth. Years after long skirts had gone out of fashion, in the thirties and forties, my Grandmother Hannah wore ankle length skirts and black boots buttoned firmly round her ankles. In her early days she had been a sewing maid to the Wills tobacco family in Bristol.
Being a coal miner meant that Albert spent his working life in the depths of the mine. For most of the nine hours shift he would be lying flat on his side and hacking away with a pick at the coal. Other men would load the broken coal into tubs and it would be drawn along the underground tunnels by ponies. The tunnels had, by law, to be about five feet in height so that the animals did not rub their backs against the roof. The ponies pulled the tubs from the coal-face to the haulage. This was worked by a huge engine with two drums and two steel ropes. The haulage carried the full tubs to the shaft bottom where the contents were transferred to a hopper and thence into skips which were hauled upward to the surface.
Albert’s wage in those days early in the twentieth century would be around twenty five shillings a week. Out of this about three shillings and five pence would be paid in rent, and two shillings for Union dues. The rest would go for housekeeping and clothing. Most miners paid twopence a week each for their wives and themselves and one penny for each child into an insurance and burial fund. The harsh conditions undermined the workers’ health and there were many dreadful accidents. There was no such thing as holidays with pay. The men were allowed a concessionary amount of coal so their houses were always warm. The women would keep the boiler which was built on to the side of the fireplace full of water so that at least they had some hot water on tap. The cast iron range would be polished regularly with black lead and any brass knobs or trimmings would be rubbed until they shone. The oven would be kept busy baking loaves and oven cakes and a pot of stew kept simmering on the hob. Neighbours helped one another. Hannah was often called out to assist at births and to lay out the dead.There were no pit baths until 1932 so the tin bath which hung on the wall outside the back door would be in use daily, in front of the fire for each and every miner in the household. The building of the baths must have been a tremendous bonus to the village.
Albert was a staunch Methodist and became a Lay Preacher. He often preached at the village chapel as well as those in outlying villages.
The children of the village had acres of fields and woodland to play in. Leslie’s Grandmother lived at the laundry house belonging to Fryston Hall at one time and he loved to visit and wander in to the empty Hall with its cedar-wood panelled library which still contained its bookshelves and handsome marble chimney-piece flanked by small cupboards. In the wood was the stone coffin which had been unearthed in March 1882 by two men who were preparing the land for liquorice beds in a field known as Papermill Field at Holmfields and brought to the Estate by Lady Houghton in the latter part of the Nineteenth Century. Later it was transferred to the grounds of Pontefract Castle.
Each morning it was Leslie’s job as eldest child to collect the milk from the farm. Off he would go, swinging the metal milk can in one hand, the other usually tucked into the front of his coat for warmth. He enjoyed this errand, especially on winter mornings which were his favourites, crunching over the frosted grass and making fresh slides wherever possible on the pathways. Running back with the full can he would swing it back and forth, up and over, so fast that not a drop was spilled. His warm breath clouding the icy air he knew that when he returned there would be a pot of tea and a thick slice of oven cake, maybe spread with pork dripping, waiting for him before he left to cross the road to school.
Mr Rickaby was the Headmaster and his word was law. He was very fair with his pupils though and could hold even the most inattentive child’s interest when he spoke of far-off lands and great happenings in the past. Mrs Fox was one of the teachers. She lived in a cottage close to the riverside. I think there were three cottages but they have long gone. No doubt buried beneath the waste from the colliery.
During the First World War boys from the village would go to the farm belonging to the Hall and ride the horses which had been requisitioned and assembled there to be trained before being sent to the battlefields in France.
There were trams in those days linking most towns but no public transport between villages and towns. For items not obtainable in the village shop it was necessary to walk into town. Along the often mist shrouded Wheldale Road which ran parallel to the river, past Wheldale Colliery towards the bridge (where steps led down to the riverside to enable landings from the boats which transported passengers and goods up river-[they are still there]). On raw foggy days or when the wind whistled across the river banks Leslie’s mother would tuck sheets of brown paper inside his jacket for extra warmth. Eventually, with the invention of the internal combustion engine, an enterprising man named Brocklehurst bought a motor coach and ran a service between Fryston and Castleford.
Entertainment was self made. A féte was held annually. Leslie’s father, Albert, was the secretary responsible for booking the brass band and collecting the entrance fees from those from the surrounding villages to take part in the festivities. Refreshments were provided for the bandsmen and those members of the police who were required to attend any gathering of people.
Sunday School outings were a treat when all the children piled together in a horse-drawn charabanc. They would spend the day at such places as Monk Fryston Hall where they ran races and played games until it was time to return home.
When he was fourteen years of age Leslie left school and started work in the fitting shop. In those days of private ownership the colliery was self sufficient. They made their own tools in the fitting shop. Leslie made the first railings which surrounded the ‘bull ring’. He enjoyed the variety of work although much of it was hard and exacting.
In the early 1920’s the family moved to 41 Fryston Road, Airedale. A large new estate had been built and the houses must have seemed luxurious after the more primitive ones they left behind. A nice size garden was an added attraction. In common with most miners Albert was a keen gardener.
In later years Leslie moved from the fitting shop to become a winding engine-man. He told me that barely a day went by but a message was sent up to the winders to go slowly because an injured man was riding up.
Now the colliery has disappeared. It would amaze the old timers if they had to come back and see all the alterations to the area. They would think they had been born too soon.
My father was a Farrier who worked at Wheldale Colliery, he also visited Copleys Farm to “Shoe” the horses.I was a little lad at the time,sometimes Dad would let me go with him. I loved to go to that farm We also visited two farms at Holmfields for the same purpose. I seem to recall visiting Fryston Hall with my Father too.
Where were Quarry Cottages Fryston 1914 please anyone? Shown on a service record
Excellent, Very interesting read for anyone, let alone people who know the area,I lived in and around Castleford 40 years or so before moving on, worked down Savile Colliery Methley for a few year’s, Happy day’s.
What beautiful writing,from a miners daughter,born in Castleford, lived in Airedale( taking the bus every day passing through Fryston village,and Wheldale.) Looking out through the glass window of the bus ( no vandalism of scratching,which seems to be a very popular pass time with the bored population of Perth Western Ausralia ) and seeing the tired, and weary pit ponies.This is just from someone at the other side of the world who doesn’t forget where they came from-miners strikes,black outs that seemed to go on forever.Regards and thank you for such lovely reading.
Hi Helen
Thank you for the kind message.
Barbara
Hi Helen . We haven’t met .I don’t suppose we ever will but I would write and send photos if you would like them of the “Old Country’ I write to Barbara frequently as we went to the same school and we were actually in the same class. She lives in Townville and I Iive.in Peterborough. Cambridgeshire..When I left school I went to work in Bank Street Cas’ at the main Post Office as a Telegram Boy. I would like to write to you !! and learn a bit more about “Oz”. Here’s hoping. All the best. Ron
Wonderful reading
i was born in Fryston as was my sister we lived in a back to back house There where three North streets in Fryston we lived across from Mr Jack Hulme .
Hi David. Recognise the name Winterbottom. I was born in Fryston 1946. Back to back houses, yes Oxford Street. My Name–Eddie Parker now age 67. played Rugby with Cas Juniors with Millward etc. Worked at Fryston Pit on leaving school 1962. Worked on coal face with my dad Harold and Horrace Crossley. Left Townville in 73. joined Nott’s Police. Retired 2004. Now live in North East. Hope you can recall the name Parker.
Hello Barbara,
William Saunders (Alberts father) was my 2nd great grandfather. I grew up in Fryston Village and have a photograph which has William, his wife Alma Bertha Craddock and his children (including your grandfather, Albert) in it. You may have a copy yourself but I am happy to share my parts of our family research and email you a copy of the photo if you wish. It’s brilliant to read more about this line of the family in your blog. Thanks for publishing it!
Jack.
I spent the early eighties in the village 5-11yrs I think my dad was the only pole in the village very fond memories
CLIVE NOWICKI 3 north street
hi mime jamie i grew up in ferry fryston with my parents along with my mums mum and dad dennis allinson ann allinson dennis my granded worked in the fryston pit we still have is pit lamp pit tag number also his real silver wisky tank
Lovely, interesting article. My mother was born in Fryston on North Street – one of the few remaining houses. Her name is Kathleen (nee Gilliver). I remember visiting various relations with my grandad, Wilfred Gilliver.
Hi
It was a good read learning about Fryston and the colliery back in the days. I am one of Jack Hulme’s grandsons, it was nice to read a little of his history about his friends and neighbours.
Hi David I’m also interested in fryston ,my name is John Bagguley from Leeds.My dad was John William Bagguley,but went by the name of Bill he was born in 1917.my mother and her dad and stepmother were the people who came from Stoke-on-Trent to Fryston.They lived at 33 North Street just up from your grandad and his wife Rosie and his daughter Christine Humle.Would like to hear from you.I hope you get this message.🤣👍🏻👍🏻
Hi
Hope you heaar from David.
Barbara
27 North Street. My great grandfather lived there.
Hi
Pleased you find the website interesting.
Barbara
What was your mother’S maiden name.
Hi
It was interesting to read the comments on John Rickaby (School Master) as I am his great grandaughter. Im always looking out for information on him, he sounded a bit of a character!
Hi Tracy
Thank you for the comment. My father often spoke about his schooldays and Mr Rickaby.
hi my dad was born in fryston surname of redman his mum was an appleyard. has anyone any information xx
Thank you for the comment.
Barbara
Hi My Dad new the Redmond and the Appleyards, think there was Simon Redmond and I think appo Appleyard who I think his proper name was David, was murdered in Cas town centre. They all lived on Brook St Fryston. My Dad worked down the pit bur he is now sadly deceased. My step mum still lives there I think. Pat Gwilliam. Lives at 16.
Hi
Thank you for the comment. Fryston has such an interesting history.
Barbara
I remember the Appleyards. I was born in Hope street, went to Fryston Primary school and then to Airedale secondary school. Gran and Grandad live at the top of Smith Street.
Hi Trevor
Thanks for the message. I am always pleased to hear from people who have seen my Blog.
Barbara
Hi my gran lived at the top of Hope street
Vera Gwilliam
Then moved to 1 Smiths Cottages
Hi Richard
Thanks for your message. Perhaps you still live in the area. Things are much different now than in 1903.
Best Wishes. BARBARA
Hi Barbara,
I remember Vera Gwillaim very well My Gran Elsie Moseley lived at te top of Smith Street. I was always in their house when I was a kid. I remember Cliff Gwilliam as well. Lost touch with an old friend, Stuart Fletcher and also Denis Maskill
Trevor Moseley
Hi Trevor
Pleased you found something of interest on my Blog.
Barbara
My Gran lived at the top of Hope street
Vera Gwilliam then she moved to 1 smiths cottages .
What’s your dads name ? I knew a Simon red man from Fryston and his grandad lived on Brook street. Appleyards lived further down Brook street. My dad lived at 16 Brook street next door to the wrights and Minnie Milner, Cliff Gwilliam was my dad and our David still lives there i think as my dad died in 2003 and Pat died later.
Fascinating reading, my dad was born and raised in fryston and worked at fryston pit. His name is Ray Jones and he still tells us many stories about his life in fryston x
Thank you for the comment. Their lives were much harder than ours but they all helped one another.
Barbara
Thanks for all your detailed information, my father and his family lived in Ferry Fryston and the worked at the pit (of course) It was a large family surname of Allen, Isaiah and Annie were my fathers parents and he was Thomas Allen.
I visited the pit with him to colled his wages on occasions when I was about 6 years old about 1947, he worked down the pit in the second ww he was born in ferry fryston in 1910, my grandfather Isaiah had a pony and trap, would be very interested if you had any information about them–thanks again for and excellent historical account –regards George Allen
Hi George
I do not know anything about your family. I had an Uncle, Cyril Allen, he originated from Normanton. He was cousin to Jimmy Bullock the colliery manager at Fryston.
Thank you for the comment.
Barbara
Hi Barbara I remember my father talking about Jimmy Bullock I got the impression he though he was a good bloke.
Hi George
You have been in touch before. Hope you are well.
Barbara
Me my brothers my father and his father all worked at Fryston Colliery My Grandad and my father lived in Fryston I was broughjt up in wheldon lane,, ,Fryston never seems to be mentioned like other pits in the area even though it was by far the biggest pit except for kellingley which was a much younger pit.I worked in the Flockton / Beeston on 31s 32s 33s then in beeston on 77s 79s 76s I went contracting for 10 years and Fryston colliery was much more impressive under ground than all the other pits I worked at ,27s airway north east intake flockton drift, flockton pit bottom .then the characters starbuck ,ray day jimmy bradley kagger payne jackie pallo stacks of them all good memories
Hi John
Thank you for the comment. If our fathers and grandfathers came back they wouldn’t recognise the place. Neither Fryston or the surrounding area.
Barbara
Thank you for a very interesting blog. My name is Lydia Kendrew nee Tonks and I’ve come across this while researching my family history. My granddad was Matthew Tonks who lived at 24 Oxford Street, New Fryston in 1891. His father John brought all the family up from Staffordshire in the late 1880s. I’d dearly love to hear of any tit-bits about the Tonks’s from their time in and around Weldon Road.
Hi Lydia
I don’t know anything about the Tonks family although I am familiar with the name from schooldays. There was a shop belonging to the Tonks.
A lot of families originated in Staffordshire. They came when the new pits were being sunk.
Barbara
Hi John my father Tommy Allen worked at Fryston and I remember him talking about Flockton and Beeston do you remember him? rgds george allen
Hello George I knew a Reg Allen went to Airedale school and worked at fryston. I think I remember the name tommy Allen but I might be mistaken.
Hi Barbara, I’m in Bristol but last night I went to a slideshow here featuring S Yorks pits including Fryston – and Tom Puddin’s!
My interest is that my late Mum was born in Smith St – I have the colliery manager’s letter to my Grandad declining compensation for when she was knocked over as a child by a coal cart. My ancestors were Staffordshire miners who moved to Yorks about 1903/5.
They were the Simpsons (one of whom, George, is pictured in Jack Hulme’s book along with his daughter Georgina). My GG Grandad was Joshua Bloomer Davis, but he’d upped-sticks from Brownhills with a still-married mother called Simpson. She had two more kids (with Joshua) but they were all known as Simpson.
In the 1911 census he is the ‘head’, and she a ‘boarder’. Divorce was expensive in those days. Daughter Elsie married a ‘Swift’ , from Perry Barr, and these (my grandparents) moved to Thurnscoe when my Mum was little. She in turn married and moved to Peterborough. There must surely still be some Simpsons about who’d be be interested in family matters? I know of only one relative (Hazel) now living in Norfolk.
There was clearly an exodus of some sort from Staffs to Yorks, yet little seems to be written about it. Who organised it, who paid/arranged transport etc? Family lore says my lot walked, but I find that hard to believe. If the new Yorks pits were short of labour surely they’d have helped with relocation?
Hi Gerald
So pleased you liked the slideshow. I take it that the person showing the slides showed the one about Fryston Village (which is greatly changed now, nothing left of the pithead etc.)
I think many people would have walked to the coalfields. others would travel by train. I can’t imagine my Grandparents walking with a tiny baby. But in those days many people tramped from town to town across the country looking for work. Staying in workhouses overnight in many cases. Try reading George Orwell’s book – DOWN AND OUT IN PARIS AND LONDON- .He describes those men in detail in the London section.
Regards
Barbara
Hi Barbara loved reading you blog. My dad’s family lived and worked in Fryston. I am currently researching my family tree so I found this very interesting. My dad would tell me tales of when he was young. I am from the Booth family. I used to go every Sunday with my mam to see my nanan and granddad Honor .and Joe. I am sure they lived next door to Mrs Addy. As soon as we went in she would say get the Prem out Joe. I remember the outside toilet and the tin bath on the wall in the yard. There was no running hot water and they had a black leaded range. Nanan used to make lovely bread. I used to love playing with my cousin Amy she was always friendly and let me join in with her and her friends.
Regards Sandra Shackleton nee Booth
Hi Sandra
Thank you for your comment. Fryston was such a close-knit community. Everyone knew everyone else.
Barbara
LEST WE FORGET a Fryson Lad
Ernest Allen age 19
Son of Isaiah and Annie Allen, of 12, Brook St., Fryston, Castleford, Yorks.
If interested go to website ww1cemeteries.com,
World War One Cemeteries – A comprehensive guide to …
ww1cemeteries.com
A site of remembrance, with photographs, directions and historical information on over 1000 cemeteries of the Great War, also many photographs of military cemeteries …
Select :- France under the heading Cemeteries/Memorials WW1
Select :- letter B
Select :- Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension
Then scroll down to near the bottom of that page.
Thank you, George.
Barbara
Found this by accident by googling Wellington street fryston my wife was born there in 1956 the family name was Reid her dad worked as a relief porter for British railways
We found your article very interesting
Hi Derek
I am pleased that you enjoyed my article about Fryston.
Barbara
Thank you everyone
I have loved reading all your comments about fryston, and thank you to Barbara for the great reading.
We are still living in airedale and the changes are so much different to when i was little.
Long shot but family names of Simpson and moseley stories or knowing would.be appreciated to read .
Hi Sarah
Pleased you liked my write-up. So many fascinating stories exist in the past.
Barbara
Hi
My Great Grandfather and his brothers moved to Fryston about 1905, lived at 6 North Street and 19 Hope Street he was called Philip Wagstaff, my grandfather John Tomas Wagstaff was about 4 when he moved there. Many of Wagstaff family were married and buried in the local church.
John Thomas was a miner at Fryston Colliery, later moving to Pontefract to run The Rose and Crown and Black Boy. Thanks for the interesting read, I have learned even more about this area where my ancestors lived and worked.
Hi Elaine
Pleased that you learned more about this area. Sounds as though your Great Grandfather moved to North Street about the same time as my Grandfather when my Father was a baby. They might have lived next door!
Barbara
Elaine did he have a nick name as ‘Tanic” Wagstaff and played for the football team?
Hi Kevin, not sure about that, I never knew my Gt Grandfather and my Grandfather had moved to Pontefract by the time I knew him, he ran The Rose and Crown and Black Boy. Will ask a cousin who may know.
Elaine when I was looking for the link with the football team and my grandfather Horace Bellwood I am sure I saw the name. He may have gone on to play for ‘Huddersfield’ or something like that. Presume with a nick name like ‘Tanic’ it’s got to have been after the ship sunk. I tried to Google the name but nothing came up. Of course it may be another Wagstaff. It could have been in Pontefract Library records that I saw or was given it.
Hi All,
I live near Bristol but in about 1903/5 my great – grandad (Joshua Bloomer Davis – they don’t name ’em like that any more) moved to Fryston with his young family as part of a general ‘exodus’ of miners from Pelsall, Staffs. The rest of the family were known as ‘Simpson’ after their real husband and father who remained in Pelsall. The Simpsons then met fellow-‘refugees’ the Swifts (also from Staffs, but they’d moved to Thurnscoe) and two Swifts married two Simpsons. My great-Grandmother was Clara Simpson. My grandmother was Elsie ‘Dolly’ Simpson whom I only ever knew in Thurnscoe; but several Simpsons remained in Fryston. George Simpson (died aged 45), and daughters Georgina and Peggy are pictured in Jack Hulme’s book. My late Mum has annotated their images. She often mentioned ‘Tom Puddens’ and after my visit I can see why – the river’s not far away. I know of only one other Simpson extant, ‘Hazel’ now in Norfolk. My Mum was born in the 1920’s when they lived at 1 Smith Street (which someone already mentioned and got my attention). I have a letter which the Colliery manager sent to my grandad – my mum as a child ran out into the road (off Smith Street) to greet her Dad as he returned home from his shift at the pit and was run into by a colliery horse and cart. He’d asked for help with the Doctor’s fees, but the manager declined. No ‘Green Cross Code’ in those days! Or NHS.
Last year I bought a caravan in Castleford of all places and took the opportunity to make a ‘pilgrimage’ to whence my Mum came. I already knew that Smith Street was no more, but I guess that the remaining rows are pretty similar. I was struck by some curious features in the brickwork of these – high up there appeared to be bricked-up miniature fireplaces in ‘mid-air’. What on earth are/were they?
I don’t want to bore everyone with my own ancestors, so if anyone can help me with information or the fates of those named you are welcome to e-mail me direct on:
tickettyboogam@gmail.com
Best wishes, Gerald.
hello Barbara
I love reading about Ferry Fryston because my Lee family (now Leah) were there in the 1790’s, and before and after. I’m sure some of them would have worked in the colliery. Some of them were watermen and would have carried the coal elsewhere. Its all a long way from where we live now – south of Perth, Western Australia, in a tiny timber mill town.
Thank you for the blog.
Hi Jane
So pleased that you enjoyed my blog. So much history in this area. Have you ever been? Or did your family emigrate earlier?
Barbara
my dad Ronald Exley was killed at Fryston pit in 1976
Hi Terry
So sorry to hear about your father. The lives lost at collieries were horrendous.
Barbara
A very nice article of pit village life!!
Peter Buxton x
Hi Peter
Thank you for the comment.
Barbara
Hi Barbara,
My grandparents Wilfred Gilliver and Esther Hannah lived at 41 Fryston Rd with Esther’s brother Frank Tomlinson. I must ask mum because I thought they moved straight to Graham Drive from Woodside.
Best wishes,
Katharine.
Hi Katherine
That is interesting. My Grandparents left no.41 to live in Woodlands Avenue in 1939.
Barbara
G’day John Thanks for the reply, Reg Allen was not part of our family, my father Tommy was one of four brothers (Jim Rubin John) he was the only one working at Fryston, he became quite ill with serious depression and had a job on the pit top in his last few years at Fryston. I remember he had a friend who was Polish called Bronk.
I cannot be sure when he retired from the pit but it must have been round about 1975.
Hey up George
I remember a polish pit man Alex Brondel that could of been bronk.good worker Alex.
Hey up to thee anall john,
I only knew him as Bronk, but I suspect you are right, Alex was his real name, I only saw him once I think he had been drinking with my Dad at the local, I remember he was quite a big bloke and a good mate as my dad was always mentioning him.
All gone to the big pit shaft in the sky by now !!
Hi Julie
James Bullock (Colliery Manager) was cousin to my Uncle Cyril Allen (my Mother’s brother-in-law). Cyril came from Normanton.
Barbara
Hi
I’m sure George will be pleased to hear from you.
Barbara
Great story. My mother and my grandparents (the Bellwoods) and relatives the Blewett’s lived at Smith Street and William Street Fryston. My aunt was born in 1919 at number 1 Smith Street. My grandfather Horace Belwood was Colliery lamp man at the pit. Mum said he helped run the Fryston football team at one time. She would have known the Saunders I am sure.
Hi Kevin
I’m sure that they did know each other. Wouldn’t they see a change if they were to come back now?
Barbara
Hi Kevin
My great grandfather, John Rickaby, who was headmaster of Fryston School was also involved in the Fryston football team. I have a photo of the team but not sure how to upload it, however if you google Fryston AFC – they have an old photo on from 1910-1911 (John Rickaby is on the back row with the bowler hat) – don’t know if your mum will recognise anyone.
Kind regards
Tracy
Thank you Barbara and Tracy. Mum now long gone had a great memory. She once contacted Jack Hulme and told him some of the information in his book was wrong. Tracy the football picture will be too early they moved to Fryston from Morley c 1917 the on to Castleford. My mum told us a real story about how the miners (because they couldn’t take them down the pit) would leave their cigs and matches in holes in the walls on the way to work. Mum and her mates used to move them. The miners would have slaughtered them if they had been caught. She always loved Fryston and Castleford.
I have some pictures (front and rear ) of 1 William Street and 1 Smith Street which I took just before demolition c1985 but may be wrong. I can scan them and email to anyone interested but it how I get email addresses without them being posted on here
Hi Kevin,
I’m in Bristol but my late Mum (born Dorothy Swift) was born in Fryston and lived at 1 Smith Street in the early 1920’s.
I’d love to see the photos.
My e-mail is tickettyboogam@gmail.com but if that won’t register perhaps you’d ring me at home on 01454 417955.
Also (general point) what happened to all my Fryston Simpson relatives that I mentioned in earlier posts, especially those photographed in Jack Hulme’s book? eg Georgina and Peggy?
Cheers,
Jed Martin
Email sent
Hi I have just been tracing my family tree my mother Violet Hepworth (nee Astbury) was born there lots of ants and uncles also lived there. My granny Edith Astbury and aunty Dot Fox run the fish shop the Astbury s originated ftom Staffordshire
Hi Paul
Yes, there were a lot of Astburys. My Father used to talk about an Asher Astbury. Not sure if that is the correct spelling. There was also a Jim. He worked in the Co-Op.
Barbara
Yes Asher was my mams uncle her dads name was Frederick
My maiden name was Julie Astbury. I was born in Ferry Fryston before emigrating to Australia in 1969.
My dad was Charles and mum was Betty. My dads parents were Hannah (née Leese) and Joseph Astbury who are buried in the churchyard in Fryston.+
I knew so many Astburys. Not your parents though. Nice to hear from you.
Barbara
Hi did you know Harry Astbury my fantastic grandfather he was
Asher brother.
Neil Hawkhead
Hi
Sorry, did not know him but knew Jim Astbury who was the manager of the Co-0p Greengrocery in Castleford. He lived in Townville.
Barbara
I was born and bred in Fryston,we lived in number 10 hope street ,my name is Barry eddy my fathers name was rock eddy all my family worked down the pit ,a lot of the names mentioned all ring a bell.my mothers name was violet doverson,I lost mum when I was eight and my dad when I was fourteen,I left the village and lived with my brother Reginald in Townsville ,later I joined the army ,I now live in Oxford,I love reading about Fryston.
Hi
Geoff Eddy married Yvonne Parrot and they lived opposite me in Townville. Later they moved to Scotland.
He was probably your cousin. Pleased you liked my blog about Fryston.
hi Barbara infact Geoff is my brother and now lives just round the corner from me in Kidlington alas his wife mother inlaw and father inlaw past away a long time ago. nice to hear from you.
Hi barry
If the Geoff you refer to is rock eddy I knew him well.I remember he was pit over man then left but returned and came onto 15s in Flockton as deputy ,he then got his old job back as pit over man in Beeston. Good man as jimmy Bradley used to say he’d have an hours ot on a sharks back.
John Geoff is my brother rock was my dad. all my family worked down fryston pit
Hi Barbara, very interesting reading! My great grandparents lived in Fryston, I was told my great grandfather was originally a cabinet maker from around Settle, who moved to Fryston for work, I think my great grandmother had worked at Fryston Hall as a cook, they were the Iverson family, would anyone remember anything about them?
Hi Jane
I asked at the coffee morning at Holy Cross Church this morning. One person who came from Fryston said the name rang a bell but she didn’t know. If I hear more I will let you know.
Barbara
Hi Barbara,
came across your blog whilst researching my husbands family tree – loved to read about your story.
His family appear to have been part of the Staffordshire exodus and his GG Uncle Thomas Redhall lived at 12 Oxford Road in the 1891 census. He seems to have moved around the local pits as I have him listed in Stanley, Whitwood and in Sandal Magna by 1901. I’d love to see pictures of Ferry Fryston if anyone could help or if anyone knows has information about Thomas and his wife Louisa – she was from Bow, London which seems a very long way to travel back then
Max
Hi Max
If you type in Twixtaireandcalder-Fryston you may find some photos of the village.
Also, type in Jack Hulme. He took lots of photos of the village, albeit after your ancestors time.
You don’t say where you live but Castleford Museum have photos as well.
Regards
Barbara
I worked at fryston,starting off in the beeston,at 16 from school,i remember the alan Anderson the fitter,and rock eddy the overman,rock was a bugger for hitting your ankles with his stick,lol,also the men mentioned above at one time I worked with,the carl pinchers and fez partridge,i then went into the flockton after the strike driving a heading towards Allerton Bywater drift,until fryston closed,my last ride on a cage,last man off the cage,given my last check at my last pit
Hi Martin
You will have so many memories about your time as a miner.
Pleased you found my blog interesting.
Barbara
Hi Martin don’t know your age but my father worked at the Pit in the 50s 60s and possibly in the 70s, do you possibly remember a Tommy Allen?
One road in…….what a surprise when I recently got totally lost in Cas and just drove around till I arrived at that one road in….yes I stumbled across your village and was immediately attracted to this unique place….no idea of it’s history or its position until Google Earth uncovered the wonders…more research filled in the history but your descriptions painted in the colour ….I could see and feel a lost community cast adrift by politicians….how sad !! I found the One Road Out but will return……
Hi Syd
Yes, Fryston village has lots of history. I often wonder what some of those people from long ago would think if they were to come back! They would not recognise the places.
Pleased you liked my blog.
Barbara
Hi Barbara I was in fryston the other day. I was friends and we had a picnic in the middle area where the playground is. I could almost feel time slipping away. I remembered times gone by the atmosphere of those days still somehow lingers for me.
Hi Sandra, have you any relationship to the Shackleton who had a men’s hairdressers shop on Carlton St Castleford? I presume it has gon now. I had my hair cut there in the late 1940s my father would not take me to any other barber in those days, I remember I had the option of brylcreem!! I have the impression my father Tommy Allen knew him as he was born and lived in Ferry Fryston.
My grandad, Wilf Gilliver, used to take me to Fryston. We visited several relatives, aunt Maggie and aunt Edith. My favourite memories are of the pit ponies coming up and being in the field. My grandad would say look at em playing silly buggers. My other memory was of Elsie or Emma not sure, I was about 4 years old but she was Bairstow. Holmes just got her married name. She saw us and came running out of the house taking her pinny off and rubbing her hands on it and greeting us with such love that I can feel it right now. My grandad told me that she lived with them on North Street when he was a boy. He pretended to fall asleep on the sofa and she said look at him aw, poor lad I will carry him up to bed. When they got there he said, that fooled thee. Memories of Fryston are so precious.
Hello
I am writing on the off chance that someone might remember the family I am trying to trace, who in 1939 lived at Cottage No 5, Water Fryston called William Joseph HOLLAND who was a miner, then joined the army, and his wife Gladys May WARD. They had a daughter Josephine born 1933, and a son called Terrence born in 1939, who was adopted, and possibly renamed Harold BRIGGS, who we are trying to trace. There is also a suggestion that they had a child called Christoper born about 1933.
If anyone has any info, please leave a post
Thanks
I wsh I could help. Someone may see this in the comments and get in touch.
Hi
Thanks
I realised I made a mistake in the wording of the appeal. How can I correct this ?
I stated Terrence was adopted and renamed Harold Briggs, but this was wrong as I have clarified there is in fact only one brother called Christopher that I am seeking
Are there any records anywhere of miners from the colliery who worked there around 1939
I was born and bred in Fryston, my parents were Reg and Ada Moseley xx
https://polldaddy.com/js/rating/rating.js
Hi Barbara
Update on fryston village, there are still a few old terrace houses in this quiet beautiful village where my mum lived as a child but there is a new development of around 150 houses one which I’m glad I live in. My mums name was Vera brown and she lived on William street just after the bus station and pit but is no longer there.
Hi John
Thank you for the comment. The new houses where you live look really nice.
Barbara
My grandma is on the census saying in 1939 lived at 50 north street, she was mary emma roberts went on to marry charles frost. My father worked at fryston pit too his family were called Bridges, they built a garage on fryston road, and also had a haulage company W.Bridges and Sons
Hi Sue
They must have lived next door to my father’s family although by 1939 they had moved to 41 Fryston Road.
Barbara
My name is Richard Foulkes and my great grandfather Richard Foulkes lived and worked in Fryston with his wife Annie Elizabeth nee Astbury. Their four sons, Dick,Charlie,Fred,Jabez(my grandad) and Sue their daughter all the men worked at fryston pit. My grandfather Jabie Foulkes also played professional football with several clubs before settling down at junction of Crewe road and poplar avenue. I have many happy memories of playing bowls on the green at townville club with him. My father Richard Foulkes has amassed a huge amount of genaological information about our family and their ancestry but I am trying to search for an image of fryston which my contain my great grandfather.
Apparently he refused to have his photograph taken formally so I am hoping he may appear on an image without him knowing.
It has been great to share some of your posts with my father who still collates ancestral information.
Are their any specific websites which may contain images of fryston and its residents around turn of the century and into 40’s/50’s.
Thanks
Richard Foulkes.
My father knew Dick well. He said he was a good cricketer. I went to school with Margaret.
Try Castleford Museum for info about Fryston. They also have lots of photos.
BARBARA.
Richard i have just read the above and realise that Annie was my granniy Sarah’s sister.. She married Thomas Raftery.
I have a picture of Annie and Jabez when he was a young boy.
Recently I found out that my great grandfather Tertullas Astburys brother Charles was killed in the Pelsall colliery disaster in1872.
I think Tertullas would also be your great great grandfather.
Dear Gerard
I believe our grandma’s were sisters – Marian and Constance? I have never seen a photo of Constance I would be delighted to see any if you have them. Also if you have any photos of our Great Grandparents John Scoffield Rickaby and Edith Alice (Headmaster and Headmistress at Fryston School).
Look forward to hearing from you.
Tracy France
Hi Tracy
My father attended Fryston School when Mr Rickaby was headmaster. Thank you for your comment.
Barbara
Hi Tracy
Thanks for your interest in my Blog. My Father was a pupil of Mr Rickaby and often spoke of those days.
Barbara
Thank you for the reply Barbara, if you recall any stories about Mr & Mrs Rickaby I would love to hear them for my family tree. Kind regards Tracy
Jane Bourke,
Hi Barbara,
I am wondering if anyone remembers the Iveson Family who lived in Fryston during the early part of the twentieth century. The parents were, Richard and Sofia Iveson, their children were , Claude, Gladys, kitty, and Muriel. Muriel was my grandmother. Richard was a carpenter by trade, I believe he moved to Fryston to work in the mines during the First World War. Muriel married my grandfather Thomas Doherty. Maybe someone remembers a member of this family? By the way , I just read a post commented on by Gerard Betteridge, is he related to Carol Bettridge, who I went to school with?
Kind regards,
Jane Bourke
On Wed, 20 May 2020 at 8:57 PM, Barbara’s Web Site wrote:
> Gerard Betteridge commented: “Richard i have just read the above and > realise that Annie was my granniy Sarah’s sister.. She married Thomas > Raftery. I have a picture of Annie and Jabez when he was a young boy. > Recently I found out that my great grandfather Tertullas Astburys brother ” >
Hello
I am writing on the off chance that someone might remember the family I am trying to trace, who in 1945 lived at 9 Wellington Street in Fryston? I have visited Fryston recently but unfortunately the street no longer exists so was unable to ask any neighbours .
If anyone has any info, please leave a post
Thanks
Hi Philippa,
I’ve looked on the electoral register for 1945 and it shows that four people were living at 9 Wellington Street. Fred Howson, Winnie Smith, Doris Liddle and Stanley Storey.
I hope this helps,
Julie
Tracy, sorry but I don’t have a picture of constance.
My sister Marion, undoubtedly named after your grandmother as just been in touch with a lady from Shropshire who is interested in Fryston.
She as kindly sent us some photographs of the Astbury side of my family who came to Fryston at the turn of the century along with many others from that area.
Gerard.
Hi Gerard my Grandad was Harry Astbury who I believe is turtullas’s grandson I’m interested in trying to find out who is father was.
My Grandfather’s mother who was Turtullas’s daughter Mary had children who some had her maiden name (Astbury) and some are Morgan’s.
Neil, Sorry I haven’t searched all the family tree as I was just interested in my grandmother Sarah Jane Astbury and her ancestors.
Mary would have been her sister.
My great grandfather below and your great/great grandfather.
Tertuluse Astbury born. Walsall 1848.
Died. Pelsall 1896.
Spouse Eliza Hinton.
Hi
My grandad lived in Fryston village Samuel Holmes. My dad also worked at the pit and was also Sam Holmes. My dads sisters were Elsie , Dora, Edna, Annie and Mary. I remember going to play down there when I was little. It was lovely to hear your story .
So many people remember Fryston with affection,Sharon.
Pleased you enjoyed my blog.
Barbara
If anybody is interested i have 2 photo albums of Fryston village by Jack Hume
Hi Barbara,
This is a brilliant blog not least because it is has been running so long and you have attracted so many notes. I will add one tiny one. My wife Sally, and two friends Audrey and Matthew came from Leeds to the picket line at the pit in 1984. We brought a boot load of foodstuffs and a sum of money collected in Leeds mainly round the University. We returned often and were introduced to the women organising the kitchen throughout the strike. I have forgotten its location . Does anyone seeing this blog remember this or anything about the village during the strike? I think a lady called Betty was a dynamic organiser, but I may have the name wrong. She struck up a friendship with our comrade, Audrey, another dynamo who sadly died 15 years ago. I think the pit was closed with much bitterness within a month of the strike ending. Best wishes, John Charlton (Newcastle on Tyne).
ps I think we got a good laugh because we brought our 9 month old son in a back pack so that he would get good training early in knowing which side he was on!
Thanks John
I wish I could help you with names. Sorry. Difficult times.
Barbara
Mr Brocklehurst may have been my Great Grandfather Jediah Brocklehurst who lived just off Wheldon Rd and had a small haulage company with his brother Thomas who lived in Fryston Village. I know very little about him as he and my Great Grandma were not married and he died when my Grandad was a baby
Hi Richard
Thanks for comment.
Barbara
No, thank you for the memories Barbara
Hi Barbara,
I LOVED reading your blog. I found it by accident searching for a Philip Wagstaff. Amazing what you find when you least expect it. I tried researching Fryston years ago, but only really found dates and facts. Your blog has such a personal touch to it, so it’s far more interesting.
My great-grandparents, James and Fanny Cohen, moved from Burslem, Staffs, to Denaby (1904) and onto Fryston very soon after. They had several children, George, James, Eliza, Fanny, Mary-Jane (my grandmother), Ellen, Hilda and Wilfred, between 1899 and 1917. The 1911 census shows them living at 6 Wellington Street, and the 1939 register shows them at 20 Hope Street, but I’ve no idea when they moved from one address to the other.
I like the part where you said ‘Leave the pit, leave the house’. This was so true. My Dad has told me how tough times were back then. James Cohen died in 1939, and my great-grandmother, Fanny, was apparently told to get out. However, James had been best mates with the main man at the Union, who had her back, and arranged for her to stay for some time longer. I don’t know if it was until her death, or until their children had all left.
Their daughter, Eliza, married a Philip Charles Wagstaff, who I read in one of the earlier comments lived at 19 Hope St. I’m assuming that was next door, though I suppose it could have been opposite.
My Dad remembers visiting ‘Granny’ at 20 Hope Street, probably in the late 1940s, perhaps even the very, very early 50s, and remembers several terraced houses, and then a block of toilets, then some more houses, then their toilets. He also remembers ‘Uncle Phil’ sat in a chair in the small front room, just shaking. All the time shaking. He has since assumed perhaps it was shellshock, but I cannot find any reference of him serving in either WW1 or WW2. I wondered if perhaps the trauma was from a pit collapse…. Maybe someone knows.
Even if no-one has any answers for me, I still thoroughly enjoyed reading your little time capsule of life in a mining town. Thanks for sharing – and keeping it up for so long.
Hi Julie
Perhaps the shaking was due to Parkinsons? Some people shake a lot and others not much. My brother had it and his hands did not even shake. Just a thought.
Pleased you liked my blog.
Barbara
Eddie, was your dad’s nickname ‘colonel’, I did my apprenticeship down Fryston in the late sixties and remember ‘colonel’, my grandad and dad worked there at the same time (both called Horace), I worked in the fitters and the diesel garage in the Flockton level. My dad Horace was secretary at Fryston club for a long time.
Thankyou
My father was born in this village in 1925.
I live in New Zealand. I would like to find out more of the time he lived in the village.
His father was Archibald Coils his mother was Julia Mcbane Cook Coils.
Julia died after the birth of Margaret in 1931.
Dads name was Archibald Coils he had 6 sister in all. They called him Sonny Boy.
His first job at 4 was carrying the coal bucket home each evening.
He often was canned at school and was proud his layers of patching protected his hide from the pain.
Hi
Thanks for the message. I am pleased that you liked the article. Your father would go to Fryston School I expect. Perhaps he later worked at the Colliery.
Fryston is much changed now. No Pit headgear or school. It is just a residential village now.
Best wishes. BARBARA
I have enjoyed reading all messages, I was born 17 Hope Street Fryston 1949 my brother 1953 at our grand parents house where my Mum and Dad also lived. My great grand parents name moved to Fryston village in 1901 from Hanley ( the women had all worked in the Potteries)
Stoke on Trent My Grandad was 2 years old. My Dad and both sisters were born in the village. My Gran came to Fryston from Derbyshire in early 1900 with her family to work in the pit. I purchased my Dad the Jack Hulme book over 30 years ago he was on the photo of VE day very smart young with shirt and tie on (that was my Dad always smartly turned out) I had a drive into Fryston Village two weeks ago, first time in 50 years. New housing estate been built very few of the terraced house left standing.
Gillian Linley was (Caulkin)
Hi Gillian
Thanks for the comment. No doubt my Dad knew your family. Fryston has changed so much over the years. that’s why I decided to write about it before it was all forgotten.
Where do you live now?
Barbara
Hi Barbara, I live in Methley Leeds. I attended schools in Ferry Fryston, My Brother & Sister still live in the area. Ferry Fryston was built to house the people from Fryston who had to move out due to demolishing the property’s in the village in the mid 50’s. Mum and Dad lived in the home we moved to in Ferry Fryston until they passed away they purchased the house from the council in the 1970 s they were so proud. My Dad worked at the pit for about 15 years he had served his apprenticeship in engineering in Leeds, he then worked as an mechanical engineer at Ferry Bridge Power Station, My Mum had worked at the YEB as a secretary, she transferred to Power Station as they were both nationalised industry at the time.
Thank you for your reply.
Gillian
Thanks Gillian
Barbara
Barbara – how lovely to read all this… and I’ve only skimmed through, as I have an appointment. I’ll return tomorrow. Just to say, My lovely Mum was born onto the Spedding family of No. 5 Brook Street. She married a Somerset man, so moved ‘south’… but as children we visited our Yorkshire family every year – what great times we had in Brook Street, and up at Airedale with cousins. I’ve returned to Brook Street, as it’s the only street still standing… so pleased about that. Our daughter has also taken her children to stand outside No. 5. If the current owners have ever seen strange people taking photos outside their house…. it was us!! Proud to be of the ‘Fryston Village’ family.
Hi Brenda
Kind of you to comment. Such a lot of history regarding Fryston has been lost. It was a really close knit community.
Barbara
One of my Mum’s brothers was William (Bill) Spedding, who was a prisoner of war for 4 years and came back to Brook Street to a ‘welcome home’ street party. He was a talented artist – he did hundreds of pencil sketches (gave many away) and once had an exhibition of his work somewhere near Fryston. My grandad, John (Jack) Spedding had an accident in the pit (hit & dragged by a coal truck) which forced his retirement, but at least two of his sons, Bill and Terry, worked at Fryston Pit.
You certainly have lots of memories. Thanks for the comment.
Barbara
My Grandad Charles Clarke worked at Fryston Pit I would say probably in 1930’s to 1950’s just as a collier he lived on Fryston Road near Airedale School in a house which I believe was originally a ‘pit house’ . Has anyone any idea when this would have been built at all? My Grandad George Holmes worked at Wheldale Pit probably about a decade later he was a deputy and union official and lived on Broomhill.
Hi Sonia
I believe all the houses on Fryston Road were built in 1928. That would be when lots of families in Fryston moved up into Airedale.
Thanks for the comment.
Barbara
Hello Barbara,
What a fantastic blog! Am gradually working my way through all the comments and learning so much.Thank you.
My Nanna and Grandad, Gladys and Howard Ruddick lived at 34 Fryston Road and I have very fond memories of visiting their house which was next door to the butcher’s shop on Fryston Road. My Dad, Brian, used to work there when he was at school, helping Mr Fletcher move the carcasses and scrubbing the wooden block. My Grandad, Howard Ruddick worked for Airedale Collieries, but I don’t know whether it was the Wheldale or Fryston Pit. He had moved up from Radstock in Somerset with his brother and sister in law who was also my Nanna’s sister, to work in the pits.
I
Hi Jane
My Grandparents, Albert and Hannah Saunders, lived at 41 Fryston Road and were friends of the Ruddicks. I knew Joan and Brian. Brian was in the
BOY’S LIFE BRIGADE with my brother Donald Saunders. They attended Airedale Methodist Church.
Do you still live in the area?
Thanks for the Comment.
Barbara